Book Notice

The Two Babylons – Romanism and its Origins by Rev. Alexander Hislop Published by B. McCall Barbour, 28 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh. Paperback, 330 + xxii pages. Available from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom, 133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow, or from the publishers, at £5.95 plus postage.

THIS scholarly work, which was first published in 1916, traces the roots of the Church of Rome back to, and beyond, the paganism of Babylon. The author, who was at one time parish schoolmaster of Wick, and afterwards Free Church minister at Arbroath, clearly shows the pagan origin of Christmas, Easter, the worship of the Mother of the Child, and many other Roman observances. In chapters entitled, “Distinctive Character of the Two Systems”, “Objects of Worship”, Festivals”, “Doctrine and Discipline”, “Rites and Ceremonies”, and “Religious Orders”, he brings forward abundant proof to show conclusively that Rome is the Babylon of the book of Revelation.

In his Introduction he says that “it has always been easy to show, that the Church which has its seat and headquarters on the seven hills of Rome, might most appropriately be called Babylon’, inasmuch as it is the chief seat of idolatry under the New Testament, as the ancient Babylon was the chief seat of idolatry under the Old. But recent discoveries in Assyria, taken in connection with the previously well known but ill-understood history and mythology of the ancient world, demonstrate that there is a vast deal more significance in the name than this. It has been known all along that Popery was baptised paganism; but God is now making it manifest that the paganism which Rome has baptised is, in all its essential elements, the very paganism which prevailed in the ancient literal Babylon.” How few see that this is so.

The author also states, “It is deplorable to think that, notwithstanding all the revelations made from time to time of the true character and origin of Popery, Ritualism still makes progress in the Churches, and that men of the highest influence in the State are so infatuated as to seek to strengthen their political position by giving countenance to a system of idolatry.” Today, in many nations, that bewitching power of Rome is very evident. May the reading of this classic work cause many to see the satanic nature of this false religion, and move them to pray for its downfall, and that multitudes would be set free whom it beguiles and leads to perdition.